Daily SUMMARY:
DAY 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City, Transfer to Moab
DAY 2: Explore Arches National Park
DAY 3: Canyoneering
DAY 4: Canyonlands National Park Tour
Day 5: Farewell
FEATURES:
+ Exploration of Moab Arches and Canyonlands
+ An incredible canyoneering experience w/ rappelling & more
+ Beautiful yurt-style glamping accommodations and hotel stays
+ Daily hikes, meditations, and mindfulness
+ Epic sunsets, big sky views and reconnection to nature
+ 3 delicious and fueling meals daily
Plus:
+ 2 Root Tour Leader & 2 Local Guides
+ Individual pre-trip prep as needed
+ 2 pre-trip Zoom calls
+ 6 week post-trip integration guide
+ 2 post-trip Zoom calls
+ Talk to a real human when booking and planning your trip!
What Makes This adventure Special:
Come adventure with us in the awe-inspiring expansiveness of the desert, where we’ll use the natural landscape as a tool for self-reflection to access the powerful aliveness within. If you feel far removed from the spark of life, then this adventure will help you feel re-invigorated.
Four knowledgeable guides will lead you on an incredible exploration of two of the most magnificent National Parks - Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Your home base will be beautiful yurt-style glamping accommodations with plenty of time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with nature.
During the day you'll be out hiking and exploring, taking in epic views with stunning backdrops. Top it all off with the addition of slow quiet sunrises, magnificently stunning sunsets, and delicious meals to keep you fueled and ready for each day's adventure.
The big adventure of this trip is a 1/2 day canyoneering experience where you will explore the magic of sculpted chasms, washes and gullies, and plunge into hidden slot canyons only accessible by rope.
As you hike and explore the natural landscape, you’ll be led in mindfulness practices that will help you come back to the present and appreciate the adventure in each moment. When we slow down, we can observe the natural landscape and make deeper connections to our own lives. Inspired by the sandstone and arches surrounding us, we can reflect on both the erosive forces that deplete us and the resilient internal landscapes that are left standing.
At the end of your trip you’ll have a better sense of the vivid forces in your life and how to proceed forward with a renewed sense of self! Your mindfulness experts will give you plenty of ideas for incorporating your practices from the trip back into your daily life at home.
Meet Your Tour Leaders
James Freeman
Originally from the foothills of the western Carolinas, James has called Oregon home for the past ten years, merging the worlds of outdoor recreation and personal growth as a wilderness therapist. James currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where you can find him exploring some of the local climbing crags or in front of his sewing machine, depending on the season
Carisa Banuelos
Carisa, Director of Traveler Experience for Root Adventures, has a passion for the rhythms of nature and it’s ability to teach us everything we need to know about ourselves. After a decade of teaching meditation in Denver, you can now find her out among the cornfields of Iowa teaching yoga and enjoying her family and the peace and tranquility of her township of 10 people and 30 cats.
WHY travel with Root?
HEar directly from our travelers:
Kristin
“I had a phenomenal time on the Banff trip! The hotel accommodations and restaurants were excellent, the food while backpacking was plentiful and tasty, and our guide was knowledgeable and trustworthy. Every detail was very well planned and executed. The best parts were the amazing scenery and meeting the wonderful women of the group! I would 100% use Root Adventures to travel again!”
Ellie
“I traveled to Baja with Root in late April and had an absolute blast. I made meaningful connections with my fellow travelers, dipped my toe into a pool of new activities (swimming with sea lions!!), and left my week in Mexico feeling rejuvenated. I also left the week feeling empowered: A unique aspect of our trip was that all the travelers were women; while I had some trepidation about traveling with a group of women I didn't really know, it turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. Adventuring in new territory with other strong, confident, badass ladies was energizing — and really, really fun. We snorkeled, SUPed, swam, kayaked, explored, and connected over shared experiences as we chatted at the dinner table late into the evening. I will cherish the time I spent in Baja and look forward to an opportunity to return. I'm grateful to Root for coordinating such a memorable adventure. ”
FAQ’s
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We provide a full service experience. Included in your trip cost is:
-Transportation: All transportation is included from arrival at the Salt Lake City (SLC) Airport to the return to airport.
-Food: All food from lunch day 1 until breakfast on day 5 is included as outlined in the itinerary.
-Accommodation: Hotel (double occupancy), glamping (double/triple occupancy) accommodation
-Equipment: We will provide all group gear as well as sleeping bag rental. Trip participants will be responsible for providing their own hiking clothing, rain gear, day packs, and sturdy hiking footwear, a packing list will be provided.
-Park entry fees
-2 Local guides who have current Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificates.
-2 Root Expert Tour Leaders who will facilitate mindfulness/wellness practices
-Daily mindfulness activities/sessions
-Individual pre-trip support as needed
-2 pre-trip calls
-2 post trip calls
-Access to our Director of Traveler Experience who can help answer all your questions!
-All tips/gratuities
-6 Week Post-Trip Meditation Series to help integrate your experience
-Lifetime access to the Root Community
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Souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and anything not detailed in the itinerary.
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April is the perfect time to visit Arches and Canyonlands national park before the hot hot summer season hits. Daytime highs average 60º to 80ºF (15º to 26ºC) and lows average 30º to 50ºF. This is a region that is notorious for wide temperature fluctuations, sometimes over 40 degrees in a single day, so you’ll want to make sure you pack and dress in layers!
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You’ll need to arrive in Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC) by 11am on April 28th. Please depart from SLC any time after 4:00pm on May 2nd.
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We classify this trip a difficulty level of 3 out of 5. No prior hiking experience is required, however multi-hour sustained physical exertion will be required for day hikes. There is a potential for elevation gain and up to 6 hours of movement per day. You need to have the ability to carry a day pack with a hydration bladder. Hikes may be optional: route, group and guides depending!
On the third day you’ll be spending half the day canyoneering. This entails hiking, rappelling, down-climbing, and stemming! This is a beginner friendly experience and you will be very well-supported.
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Sleeping accommodations are 3 night’s glamping and 1 night hotel stay as detailed in the itinerary.
Your glamping yurts do have heat and electricity so you’ll be staying warm and toasty as the night cools down!
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All you will need to carry is a daypack for your day hiking adventures. We recommend a daypack that has a chest and waist strap and ability to house a hydration bladder. In your daypack you’ll be carrying the essentials for hiking during the day such as extra layers, water, sunscreen, hat, etc.
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Yes! Most dietary requests can be arranged in advance.
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There is heat in your yurts with access to electricity at your glamping accommodations. Wifi is minimal throughout the trip.
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There are no showers at your glamping accommodations, however you will have flushing toilets and sinks. When you’re hiking on trail though, expect to go to the bathroom in the great outdoors! Our guides will show you “leave no trace” practices for elimination on trails and outdoors.
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Here is a packing list. We will also go through gear questions in more detail in our two pre-trip calls.
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It is recommended that you do practice hikes, walks, or strength and cardio conditioning to prepare for this trip.
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Please email info@rootadventures.com or schedule a call. We would love to hear from you!